COMEDIAN and Stacksteads resident Ted Robbins officially opens the new premises of Bacup and Stacksteads community partnership on Saturday.

The single regeneration budget project has taken over the former Norweb offices at the roundabout in the centre of Bacup which is where a new IT suite is based.

Chairman of the partnership Derek Allen said a number of projects to improve the towns of Bacup and Stacksteads were already up and running.

He said: "The new IT suite is used by Accrington and Rossendale College for various courses. They also hold them at Sunnycrest Centre on Penning Rod, at the A, B and D Centre and at Holy Trinity School in Stacksteads and they are always fully booked.

"Pennine Road remodelling has started with houses being knocked down at Mettle Cote and then the team will move on to Hawthorn Road.

"The burglary fight-back scheme has been launched and a lot of bulbs have been planted in the Bacup greening project."

He said businesses could access advice and grants to make environmental improvements and Bacup Credit Union will soon be opening a shop in the town.

The partnership has helped to set on a debt counsellor at the local Citizens' Advice Bureau and the youth works project to give youngsters a voice and focus has been launched.

The office will be officially opened at 11am, but the premises will be open from 10.30am to 1.30pm for local people to find out what is happening in their town.